How to schedule texts through the Google Messages app

If you're like me, you sometimes get a great idea or have a thought that you want to share with one of your friends or family, but the timing just isn't right. Maybe it's 2 AM and you want to make sure your mom remembers to take her medicine in the morning, but you don't want to wake her up right now. Or maybe you know your partner is in a meeting and you don't want to disturb them.

That's what scheduled messaging is for! I'll show you how to schedule texts from the Google Messages app so you can type and send away without worrying about bothering others. Ready to get started? Here's what you need to know.

1. Open the Google Messages app.
2. Tap on a contact to message.
3. Type your message.
4. Press down and hold the send message arrow.
5. Decide when you want to send the message or pick your own date and time.

6. Tap Save.

   Source: Android Central

7. You will see the scheduled time in blue above the message. Tap the send message arrow.

   Source: Android Central

That's it! The message will appear italicized in your conversation thread, with a little clock icon next to it indicating that it is scheduled. There should also be a text indicator of this below the scheduled message.

Note that this only works if you have a cellular network connection; it won't work solely over Wi-Fi. Also, note that the update is still rolling out worldwide, so keep checking to see if your phone has updated to include this new feature (at the time of writing, my Pixel 4a had not). Of course, Google Messages is not your only option on Android, nor is it the most fully-featured messaging app. But with web-based messaging, RCS, and scheduled sending, it's catching up in a lot of ways!

Don't forget a great messaging app